Last Modified: Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 10:45 p.m.

Scott, who spoke about 8:30 p.m. and then had to leave, said there is "no greater place in the world" than Florida and praised Atwater as "a hard-working Floridian" during the annual Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner.

For his part, Atwater quoted Abe Lincoln and Thomas Paine, among others.

There was much talk of the importance of the 2014 elections both at the state and national levels. U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent ripped former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the administration for the handling of the Benghazi situation and railed against the IRS, which recently admitted it had subjected conservative groups to undue scrutiny.

Scott pointed out that with a AAA rating, Florida has a better credit rating than the federal government, and it achieved it while paying off nearly $2 billion in debt during a recession. He credited a state leadership that includes a totally Republican Cabinet and a Legislature that is two-thirds Republican.

Atwater also contrasted Florida and the federal government, saying the latter drove up debt and increased government's hand in important matters, while Floridians got down to work, cut government spending and worked its way out of the recession.

"We are coming back," Atwater said. "All the thanks is to you."

Atwater praised American innovations, from the cotton gin to Apple computers, and noted that the biggest were achieved without excessive government regulation.

He also emphasized the importance of the 2014 elections. "It's in our hands now," Atwater said.

This was a homecoming of sorts for the University of Florida graduate, whose early career found him working for Barnett Bank in Ocala. He praised the local office holders, saying their jobs were more difficult than his.

<p>Local Republicans packed an Ocala Hilton ballroom Saturday night to see two of the state's brightest GOP stars: Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.</p><p> </p><p>Scott, who spoke about 8:30 p.m. and then had to leave, said there is "no greater place in the world" than Florida and praised Atwater as "a hard-working Floridian" during the annual Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner.</p><p> </p><p>For his part, Atwater quoted Abe Lincoln and Thomas Paine, among others.</p><p> </p><p>There was much talk of the importance of the 2014 elections both at the state and national levels. U.S. Rep. Rich Nugent ripped former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the administration for the handling of the Benghazi situation and railed against the IRS, which recently admitted it had subjected conservative groups to undue scrutiny.</p><p> </p><p>Scott pointed out that with a AAA rating, Florida has a better credit rating than the federal government, and it achieved it while paying off nearly $2 billion in debt during a recession. He credited a state leadership that includes a totally Republican Cabinet and a Legislature that is two-thirds Republican.</p><p> </p><p>Atwater also contrasted Florida and the federal government, saying the latter drove up debt and increased government's hand in important matters, while Floridians got down to work, cut government spending and worked its way out of the recession.</p><p> </p><p>"We are coming back," Atwater said. "All the thanks is to you."</p><p> </p><p>Atwater praised American innovations, from the cotton gin to Apple computers, and noted that the biggest were achieved without excessive government regulation.</p><p> </p><p>He also emphasized the importance of the 2014 elections. "It's in our hands now," Atwater said.</p><p> </p><p>This was a homecoming of sorts for the University of Florida graduate, whose early career found him working for Barnett Bank in Ocala. He praised the local office holders, saying their jobs were more difficult than his.</p>